Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus Review

Overview

The Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus is the new flagship Pioneer Multi-Media deck with some nice improvements over the original CDJ-2000 with the inclusion of Beat Sync, Slip-Mode, Wireless Rekordbox Integration, Perfect Traktor HID Integration, and a new updated display with Zoom Waveforms and color indicators. Check out my new update review video and writeup to see if this costly upgrade is worth the price of admission.

Review Video & Demo

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Unboxing Video

Setup & First Impressions

About two years ago, we reviewed the Pioneer CDJ-2000 which has lots of the same base-features as this newly released CDJ-2000nexus model. Please be sure to read our super-in-depth (multi-page) review of the CDJ-2000 here before you continue with this review so that you are familiar with all of the standard features found on this new deck release. This review will only touch upon the new upgrade points of the CDJ-2000nexus that add to the usability and make for a more complete Overall Multi-Media Player.

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The main new additions and improvements of the Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus are the inclusion of Beat Sync, Slip-Mode, Wireless Rekordbox Integration, Perfect Traktor HID Integration, and a new updated display with Zoom Waveforms and color indicators. The New Update Review Video will explain all of these new functions in detail and I’ll also include a summary of each feature below in the breakdown…

Features

Beat Sync Mode

Just as it sounds. If users have multiple Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus units (up to four), users can link them together using RJ-45 cables through and one unit can be set as the MASTER tempo by pressing the Master button, while the other units will perfectly SYNC to the same BPM as the master deck when the SYNC button is pressed. The CDJ-2000nexus also has a small Quantize button that can be used to make sure all loops, cue points, and mixes are in sync with the master BPM machine.

Slip-Mode

The Pioneer CDJ-900 has this feature, but it was inexplicably left off the CDJ-2000 in some bazar twist of events. Pioneer has righted this wrong by adding the Slip-Mode button to the Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus. When the Slip button is pressed and the unit is in Slip-Mode, then the CDJ-2000nexus will continue to remember the place of the play-head of the song while the DJ is allowed to use cue points, loops, and scratching to manipulate the track…as soon as the Slip mode is released, then the song continues to play from the place of the song as if nothing was ever changed. This is very fun to use and it’s also known as Flux-Mode in Traktor. (When in HID-Traktor Mode, the Slip button is now the FLUX-Mode Button)

Wireless Rekorbox Integration

A new feature pulled directly from the new Pioneer XDJ-AERO, the Rekordbox software and App can now seamlessly integrate wirelessly with the CDJ-2000nexus. Any computer or iOS device that is running the Rekordbox software can now stream music, playlists, cue points, and other track data directly to the CDJ-2000nexus over the wireless or wired network. If a network connection is ever broken, then the track continues to play on a quantized loop so that the show continues to roll along.

Perfect Traktor HID Integration

All you have to do is download the ASIO driver for the CDJ-2000nexus from the Pioneer DJ Website and as soon as you start the Traktor Pro 2.6 software on your computer, the CDJ-2000nexus will ask you which Deck in Traktor you would like for it to control. After you give it an answer, You’re Set! It was so easy to use with Traktor that you swear NI had a part in making it! All of the cue points, loop controls, sync buttons and Flux/Slip mode all work very nicely here and the jog wheel integration is truly one-to-one.

Updated Color Screen With Zoom Waveform The screen on the CDJ-2000nexus seems to have a higher resolution than the previous CDJ-2000 and everything seems a bit clearer and brighter. The waveform for tracks that are analyzed by the Rekordbox software are nice and colorful. They are big and easy to see at a glance and now you can even Zoom the waveform to see all the details in the world. Cue points and other track data can also be seen in the waveform where higher spectrum sounds have a lighter color and deeper spectrum sounds have a darker color.

The other minor upgrades of the CDJ-2000nexus from the CDJ-2000 include:
-Strip Search lines are now illuminated
-Top Panel and Buttons are now Anti-Scratch Material
-Power and LAN Connections are more secure
-Emergency-Loop 4-Bar Loop that continues to play even if Track Playback error occurs.

Conclusion / Recommended For

In Conclusion, the CDJ-2000nexus lives up to all the hype. The new updates improve on an already tried and tested platform that continues to impress us all with features that look to appease even more DJ’s than ever before. I would recommend the CDJ-2000nexus to absolutely ANY type of DJ who can afford the $2400 retail price tag PER UNIT. The CDJ-2000nexus is the most powerful Pioneer CD deck to date with multiple file playback capabilities including Rekordbox & Traktor HID integration. The CDJ-2000nexus has an improved 6.1” LCD Full-color display with Zoom Waveforms and a phenominal Jog Wheel system that still feels fantastic. The new Beat Sync and quantized modes may turn as many people off as on, but I think it’s still an upgrade!

Either way, the Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus is a completely Professional player and should be at the top of most Pro DJ lists… The Pioneer CDJ-2000 would be perfectly “at-home” in the Club/Bar environment (obviously), the bedroom DJ, the beginner, the expert, and just about anyone in between (who can afford it...)

Pros

6.1” LCD Full Color Display With Zoom Waveforms

Excellent Jog-Wheel Platter system with custom tension adjustment (By Far BEST in Class)

Wireless Rekordbox software & App Integration

Multiple Media Playback Options (USB, SD, CD, Traktor HID, Rekordbox)

Pioneer brand familiarity/reliability (Pro-Gear Only)

Beat Sync & Quantize Mode To Sync with other CDJ-2000nexus Units

Cons

We all knew it was coming very soon and today Pioneer Pro DJ introduced its new flagship CDJ player, the CDJ-2000nexus, with lots of new features and technologies including Wi-Fi connectivity, compatibility with Pioneer’s new rekordbox App for iOS devices, and new functions such as Beat Sync, Wave Zoom and Slip. Also upgraded this time around is the selection screen interface for better music searches and waveform display, increased visibility of the needle search pad, and improved master tempo sound quality. Check out the video, press release, and a quick breakdown inside.

The Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus is the new flagship multi-media player from Pioneer DJ that combines all of the features found on the original CDJ-2000 with some new features that is sure to get more than a few DJ's to take the plunge. In the CDJ-2000NEXUS, some of these new features include the Slip Mode button, the Beat Sync Mode, Wireless Rekordbox integration, and Wave Zoom. We'll dive a lot deeper into the CDJ-2000NEXUS to bring you a full out HD-Video and written review within the next two weeks... Check out my unboxing & first impressions video in the meantime to see a quick rundown of what's to come.

Two weeks ago, Serato announced their new iPad companion App called Serato Remote. With the release of the App also came some updates to the Serato DJ and Serato Scratch Live software suites. Buried within the new Serato Scratch Live updates came the Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus HID-Mode compatibility which allows DJ's to use the two together in perfect harmony.

The new Pioneer CDJ-2000nexus has a lot of new functions and updates from the original CDJ-2000 that will allow DJ's to sync songs together with the touch of a button and it can also work in perfect harmony with the new Traktor Pro 2.6 DJ software. We reviewed the CDJ-2000nexus and showed you just how easy it is to get the CDJ-2000nexus working with the Traktor Pro 2.6 software, but Pioneer DJ does one better with a full video tutorial showing DJ's how to connect and use them in seamless HID mode. Check out the video tutorial after the jump.

The Mixvibes Cross Pro DJ Software allows for seamless HID integration with the Pioneer CDJ lineup. Now DJ's can control up to four Pioneer HID decks simultaneously within the Mixvibes software using all of the buttons and knobs found on the Pioneer CDJ range of CD decks. The latest video shows a host of features that can be controlled and manipulated through the CDJ on-board controls including hotcues, loops, file navigation, and much more.

Pioneer and Serato has just announced that the CDJ-900NXS multi-media player (an update to the hugely popular CDJ-900 that adds a new high-resolution color display, better looping abilities, and full Rekordbox compatibility) is now fully compatible with the Serato DJ Software in HID Mode. This means that most of the main buttons, functions, and features on the CDJ-900NXS will function flawlessly in conjunction with the Serato DJ Software.